Ethics are extremely important in a work environment. In order to check whether your vendor is working by the legally acceptable ethical standards, you need to conduct a Social Audit of the place. What is a social audit? Let’s find out

What’s A Social Audit?

A social audit is a certain type of certification audit that check your vendors for any unethical activities in their companies. The ethical or social audit is based on a strong checklist known as the SA 8000. Generally, the practices that categorize as unethical practices include:

• Child labor.
• Forced labor.
• Compromise on health and safety issues.
• Violation of freedom of association and right to collective bargaining.
• Discrimination at the workplace based on race, color, creed, religion, etc.
• Violation of workhours regulations.
• Remuneration

If any of these violations are observed, then it can create serious troubles for the vendors and in certain cases for your business too.

Why Social Audits are Important?

Vendors who do not fulfill the requirements of the Ethical Audit or SA 8000 might end up in trouble sooner or later. Furthermore, violations of social ethics indicate that your vendor has little regard for ethical values and can substantially damage your businesses’ image. In addition, you can benefit in multiple ways by conducting social audits of your vendors, for instance:

• You can avoid working with vendors who do not have regard for regulations and social values.
• It can save your time and money in case the vendor is taken down because of their unethical activities.
• Filter out the vendors who will value ethics and thus will provide you with the highest quality of products.
• Your brand image will improve.

How is the Social Audit Conducted?

SAMMARTEX Inspection will nominate a team that is well versed in the SA 8000 checklist requirements to audit your vendor. Our expert auditors will check the vendor against the following requirements:

• The vendor should not be involved in child labor.
• There should be no discrimination in the workplace.
• Health and safety requirements should be fulfilled.
• Working hours of the employees should be according to the regulations.
• The existence of remuneration policy and its effectiveness.
• There should be no forced labor in the vendor's company.
• All the employees should have the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.